#nashville review

[in-the-stacks]

A video book review of The Last Verse by Caroline Frost. Reviewed by Michelle Zaffino for In the Stacks. https://www.inthestacks.tv/2024/07/in-the-stacks-223-the-last-verse

[musicrunsthroughmysoul]

I was reading a review in a Big Country fanzine issue of a late '90s gig by The Raphaels, (Stuart Adamson and Marcus Hummon's band) apparently before they were called The Raphaels, and one thing that stuck out to me that is still sitting deeply and pleasantly in my mind was the (male) reviewer's girlfriend who didn't initially really care about seeing Stuart or Big Country absolutely LOVED the opening band who had a woman lead vocalist. The guy was like 'My girlfriend didn't really understand all the hullabaloo about Big Country and why I was so excited to see Stuart live', but she loved the last-minute opening band with the woman lead vocalist.

IDK. He didn't even mention anything about why she loved them (except that she apparently loved the opening band's cover of "Sittin' On The Dock of the Bay" which I think is mighty ambitious of a song to cover...by ANYBODY), but I just get this sense that, yeah, especially if the band/artist performing is good, some form of recognition in terms of representation is probably going to have a big impact on enjoyment. Does that make sense? Like if you go to a show where you don't know anything about the performers (and maybe don't even know who's performing), you're probably going to gravitate at least a tiny bit toward those performing who represent you in some form. Maybe it's stupid to believe that this experience is a predictable one, but I can say fairly confidently that with more than half the shows I've ever attended where I wasn't familiar with the performers beforehand, I went away most impressed, inspired, and gratified by women artists or bands that included at least one woman in them (whether they were vocalists or not - that doesn't matter to me). Does that also have anything to do with how weary I am of music, new or old, by cishet white men, though? Hmm...that is a valid thought to ponder.

Anyway...being a fan of music is just kind of funny sometimes - what will inspire us, and why, and when.

[thejoyofviolentmovement]

New Video: Shonali Shares Mischievous, Dance Floor Friendly Bop "Up All Night"

New Video: Shonali Shares Mischievous, Dance Floor Friendly Bop "Up All Night" @Shonali_ @sirenscallpr @LambRecordings

Shonali Bhowmik is a Nashville-born, New York-based singer/songwriter, actor, comedian, filmmaker, lawyer and writer, whose musical roots developed in Nashville, where she began making music on an 8-track recorder with her childhood best friend Michelle Dubois in Ultrababyfat, an act that opened for the likes of Pavement and PJ Harvey while she was in law school. She was pulled into the NYC…

[ravenousrandy]

Stopped off at Sense of Taste in beautiful Gallatin, Tennessee, to try an Italian twist on an American classic.

The Tuscan burger was one of the most unique ideas for a burger I’ve seen in a while, and I was apprehensive that it would lean more toward “Ameritalian” cuisine by just throwing mozzarella and marinara sauce on top of a beef slab with a side of mozzarella sticks, but was pleasantly surprised.

Featuring roasted pepper mayo, pancetta, truffle mushrooms, provolone cheese, and bruschetta on a softly toasted bun, this sandwich perfectly delivers the taste of a home-grilled, wood-smoked burger while providing an authentic Italian taste which evokes the feeling of enjoying charcuterie and wine on a romantically lit patio at sunset in central Italy. A drizzle of balsamic perfectly balances the smoky flavor of the meat by adding a delightfully sweet tang that you would have never imagined you needed on a burger. Long story short, you can tell this menu was curated by a chef with a deeply inspired palate.

The Parmesan truffle fries were offered in a unique shape, which is always a fun surprise. Their flatness made it perfectly easy to scoop up some of their house-made ketchup, which is a must-have. The flavor of ripe summer tomatoes is prevalent but not overpowering in this bespoke take on a classic sauce. Offsetting the sort of intense saltiness of the fries, this ketchup makes a harmonious pairing that your tastebuds will thank you for.

(Not pictured: the tomato basil soup, which was every bit as fresh and tasty as everything else on the menu.)

For those not into burgers, this place also offers an array of creative takes on chicken dishes and hot dogs that are sure to leave you content and smiling without feeling weighed down by heavily greasy, salty food.

All of this is served in a relaxed atmosphere where you can scroll on your phone, catch up on emails, or strike up a conversation with regular customers and the family who operates this stellar business. This makes Sense of Taste not just a place to get a quick lunch or early dinner, but a reprieve from the fast-paced world of foodie culture where you feel right at home.

If you find yourself in the Nashville area with a little extra time on your hands, take the 20-minute drive out to this growing town and experience this hidden gem for yourself. You won’t regret it.

[mywifeleftme]

354: Leon Russell // Hank Wilson's Back, Vol. I

Hank Wilson's Back, Vol. I Leon Russell 1973, Shelter

Leon Russell’s Hank Wilson’s Back Vol. I ends with a sudden burst of hysterical laughter, which is usually what I feel Leon’s doing at my expense when I listen to his records, but Hank is a pretty straight affair. We’re looking at 13 classic bluegrass and country standards, most such obvious choices that it would be a real challenge to record one of the thousand best versions of a given song, let alone a newly definitive one. None of these are that, but the record’s a breezy listen. Russell was a prolific session player before his songwriting career took off, and he puts together an all-star crew of sidemen, including J.J. Cale, Billy Byrd, and members of the Wrecking Crew, Nashville Cats, and Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. (Plus a sleeve design by Eve Babitz!) This’ll shock, but they sound pretty good.

The more reverent arrangements (mostly on side one) are nice but not necessarily thrilling. When Russell and company give a swampier Tulsa Sound read though, you’re in for a ball. The credits to his rollicking take on Jimmie Driftwood’s “The Battle of New Orleans” list no less than six guitar players, and you can hear all of them putting in work: crunching riffs, high sitar-like accents, even a spacy steel guitar bridge. We get a nice take on Leon Payne’s “Lost Highway” too, Russell singing like he’s got a wad of chew stuffed in his cheek, the whole track bobbing along like R. Crumb’s “Keep on Truckin’” guy. Russell’s not bad on the ballads either: there’s a splendid version of “Am I That Easy to Forget” that compares well to Gram Parsons’ work from the same year on Grievous Angel.

If I were rating the record, I’d say side one is a respectable 3/5, and side two a strong 4/5—so split the difference and call it a 3.5, well worth a grab for fans of great country-western musicianship and appreciators of the ‘70s Russell/Cale/Clapton sound.

354/365

[girlreviews]

Review #149: John Prine, John Prine

The genius of John Prine is that he skillfully sang stories of any kind of lost overlooked person with wit and a wink, but never mean spirited or punching down. He sings a gentle dignity and grace into every character in his songs. Some of them are flawed. Some of them are hopeless. Some of them are dim-witted. Some of them are victims of terrible circumstance. Some of them are terribly lonely. Each one is worthy of a song and the humanity it bestows upon them. Who knows if they are real people, but I do know that they definitely represent very real people. Veterans. Unhappy couples. Seniors. Disillusioned citizens wondering why entire generations were sent overseas to die, or sent overseas only to return empty, vacant, abandoned and addicted.

It’s sad. It makes me sad. I don’t often get through this record without crying a little. I see the faces of those in my life who haven’t been able to escape their demons, or break cycles of trauma. To their detriment, to the detriment of us all. But despite their flaws, they’re humans, and they’re worthy of dignity and love too. I’m reminded that I’m a work in progress. After all, “to believe in this livin’, is just a hard way to go”. You’re damn right, John.

Whether you hear the message in the songs is really up to you. Even though some of them — Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore — are silly sounding, cheery-almost songs poking fun at empty patriotic displays — if you’re listening, you hear what he’s really saying. It’s a protest. Your God wouldn’t support this shit. I really believe it though, that plenty of people might hear these songs and tap their foot along happily, never really hearing the pretty stark criticism in it. It’s a choice.

Sam Stone is a man returning from conflict overseas, to be abandoned by the government in coping with this struggles, and in turn abandoning his family through his need to self-medicate. Again, who you are and how you see the world might dictate how you empathize towards Sam Stone:

“There's a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes

Jesus Christ died for nothin' I suppose

Little pitchers have big ears

Don't stop to count the years

Sweet songs never last too long on broken radios”

Each line suffocates you just a little bit more. Taking just a little bit of a sharper gasp of air to ward off an emotional response or to settle down the wobble of your chin. At least, it does if you were a little pitcher with big ears. A child wondering whether your Dad would make it to your game, your high school play, whatever it was. A child who knew how to recognize the subtle changes on the face of a man growing inevitably less sober. I suppose the point John is making — is that someone out there also knows and noticed the subtle changes on your little face too. The face you made each time you dared to hope and then had to let it die when you saw that your Dad was drunk, again. You had hope, but not for long. That sweet song didn’t last long, and you learned not to bother singing along, because the radio is shot to hell and it turned to static before you even got to the chorus. Eventually, maybe you even gave up on that radio and threw it out. Or maybe you hold onto dusty old broken things wishing that you could fix them. John saw you and had love for you. But he had love for Sam Stone, too, and recognized how he and all of us had been failed. I think that’s beautiful.

Hello In There is a song about growing older and growing increasingly more isolated. I thought about this song yesterday before I decided to review this album next. I was behind a frail, elderly man wearing overalls at the checkout at the grocery store who needed a hand. We interacted briefly, and he’s remained on my mind. If I’m lucky, I’ll be an old woman someday and I hope someone will talk to me at the grocery store checkout if I’m having a bit of a moment. Honestly, I hope someone will talk to me if I’m having a bit of a moment at the grocery store checkout tomorrow.

If you don’t know Angel from Montgomery, John wrote it for Bonnie Raitt, but his version is pretty definitive. The organ in it really does sound like flying. Or what I think it would feel like to fly. I think anyway. It’s fucking good.

In keeping with the big sad feels, there’s Far From Me, which paints a detailed picture of a deeply unhappy couple. We have all been there. I’m always struck by the observation “ain’t it funny how an old broken bottle, looks just like a diamond ring?”

One of my favorites, and maybe one of the few I don’t find too terribly sad, is Quiet Man. It’s got a real something to it. I don’t know what he was going for but it’s so cool and clever:

“Last Monday night I saw a fight

Between Wednesday and Thursday over Saturday night”

“Oodles of light, what a beautiful sight

Both of God’s eyes are shining tonight”

Recommend listening to the entire song for the full effect. I am unaware of any other song in existence that can utilize the word oodles and still be considered a masterpiece. But he gone done did it.

Listen, more than any other record this one truly brought me to Nashville. Here’s something I wrote in 2020 when John Prine died after a pretty long stint in the ICU with COVID. He was really one of the first people we lost in the pandemic. And it really hurt. It hurt because everyone in Nashville that’s been here for a minute knows what John Prine meant and means to this city. But he truly, truly, brought me here and made my life better:

“Nine years ago, I visited my cousin to help her move. It was my first visit to Nashville. We were looking for John Prine’s self-titled album everywhere (streaming wasn’t quite like, a thing yet, I guess). I think we found it at McKays, but I might be mistaken. Anyway, we listened to it on repeat that entire trip, and it always reminds me of the first time I came to Nashville, which two years later became my home and gave me everything. I love John Prine. I could listen to his songs forever, and I expect that I will. Oodles of light, what a beautiful sight.”

John knew how to live. He told us what to do. Blow up your TV. Throw away your paper. Plant a little garden. Eat a lot of peaches. It’s all sound advice and we should heed it more frequently. Next time you’re out, order a “Handsome Johnny”. Be kind but don’t be too serious, and listen to some good music.

[thesebrokennights]

The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O'Neill

Format:HardbackAuthor:Heather O’NeillSeries:NoGenre:Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Romance, AdultPublication date:February 7, 2017Pages:389 *There are spoilers in this review, but they are hidden until clicked on. “They had never been taught words of affection. Although the two had only known harsh terms and words of discipline, they had managed to transform them into words of love.” —…

[zerkinoff]

I posted 23,614 times in 2022

That's 7,366 more posts than 2021!

1,506 posts created (6%)

22,108 posts reblogged (94%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@heyitsphoenixx

@urdyingwish

@bodysnatcher4ever

@thyrell

I tagged 2,872 of my posts in 2022

#mcr - 135 posts

#f - 70 posts

#wall - 55 posts

#my chemical romance - 50 posts

#real - 37 posts

#fave - 34 posts

#save - 32 posts

#graphics - 23 posts

#boston - 21 posts

#john madden - 17 posts

Longest Tag: 140 characters

#shrek everyday of my life i forgot the others i loved shrek i used to watch it in the car in my mind yes like that other post i love that no

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

2,112 notes - Posted August 9, 2022

#4

2,777 notes - Posted August 24, 2022

#3

HE WAS THERE THE DAY THE TOWERS FELL

4,674 notes - Posted May 12, 2022

#2

all of us rn

6,718 notes - Posted May 12, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

16,126 notes - Posted May 12, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[beeradventurer]

Breezin’ Festbier | Bearded Iris Brewing | Beer Review

[thatgeekwiththeclipons]

Happy 85th Birthday to Academy Award Nominated, 7x Emmy Winning, Golden Globe Nominated, Grammy Winning, SAG Award Nominated, 2x Tony Winning actress and writer Lily Tomlin! ^__^

[austinausten]

33: Year in Review

The below is a recap of the joyous, hopeful, communal, beautiful, magical, and loving moments I shared in my 33rd year in addition to the grief, pain, and anxiety that was and is still present in my life right now.

[thejoyofviolentmovement]

New Video: JOVM Mainstay Robert Finley Shares Slow-Burning Ballad "Nobody Wants To Be Lonely"

New Video: JOVM Mainstay Robert Finley Shares Slow-Burning Ballad "Nobody Wants To Be Lonely" @therobertfinley @easyeyesound @Bigfeatpr @danauerbach

69 year-old Winnsboro, LA-born, Bernice, LA-based singer/songwriter and JOVM mainstay Robert Finley‘s highly-anticipated fourth album, Black Bayou is slated for an October 27, 2023 release through Easy Eye Sound. Black Bayou sees the JOVM mainstay continuing his wildly successful collaboration with Dan Auerbach. Much like its immediate predecessor, the new album’s material is a deeply personal…

[rocknroll2024]

[nashmusicguide]

Mike Mangione Imparts His Wisdom On Us With Blood & Water

Seven albums into his career, Mike Mangione is showing no signs of creative decline; quite the opposite, in fact. The former Anchorman actor’s latest album touches on broader topics like life and love while offering his sharp commentary with a poetic touch on all the little details and each song holds a valuable lesson. And while each lyric reflects a certain amount of careful consideration, he…

[in-the-stacks]

We discuss The Last Verse, our MyLibrarian April 2024 Book Club pick, with the author, Caroline Frost.

https://www.inthestacks.tv/2024/04/author-chat-the-last-verse